Stretcher for cap-covers.



E. C. RUSSELL.

STRETCHER FOR CAP COVERS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1914. RENEWED JAN. 16,1915.

1,148,71 8, I Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

8), dz 2 A o /2:11 51 cOLL'MulA PLANDGRAPH (JO-.WASHINUTON. D. C.

STRETGHER FOR CAP-COVERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Application filed-March 10, 1914,; Seria1 No. 823,676. Renewed January 16, 1915. Serial No. 2,721.

' To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST IO. RUssnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing'on board 'U. S. revenue-cutter 'Tahoma, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in 'Stretchers for Cap-Covers, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention" relates particularly to frame devices upon which naval cap-covers are stretched and dried after washing; and has for its object the improvement in structure-andeflici'ency ofresults of such apparatus. v

r The invention conslsts 1n the novel'con struction' of a drying frame and the'combi-- nation'andadaptation of devices for'the w adjustable relative movement and securement OfllDSSEPZIIlblG members,-as wlll'be 'fullydeseribed in the following specifica tion, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally' set forth in the appended claims 'ln'said drawings,- Figure 1 is a top plan. view of apparatus embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitu'dinal sectional-view of'the same shown with, one"of-'"the lever-plates removed and illustrated with" a cap-cover in section in operatlve positlon thereon.

Fig. 3 isia perspective view o'f'the device with the cover shown'thereon.

Referring to said drawings, the reference numerals 10 and 11 designate companion stretcher-members each having preferably a semi-circular configuration in plan and arranged in opposed relation so that when 1n closed position, they 'form a substantially circular frame for the reception of the capcover or other. articleit is desired to mount upon it. Each said member comprises a semi-circularsegmental plane bottom portion 12 an inwardly directed top flange 13, and substantially vertical side wall 15 which may be molded in any desired configura ice are in common use and requirefrequent wasliing. 'They are then drawn symmetrition and which is shown formedj 'with an annular ridge 16 in" the illustrated'eXample;

The adjacent edges 17 of said members are disposed diametrically to the vertical axls of the frame and whenth'e" members are together at their lower edges by headed pins 20 rlgldly secured in one of said webs and engaged in horizontally dispose'dslots 21 'in the companion web. Each said web is formed with a relatively large horizontally elongated aperture 22. Toothed racks 23 and .24: are formed at the upper and lower horlzontal edges of the apertures in-said erating lever 26 is comprised of two plates disposed upon-opposite sides of said Webs and provided with a toothed-pinion 27 rigidly secured between said plates and-positioned in said-apertures 22 and in meshed engagement with the racks 23 and 24 of the respectlve webs, in such relation that when the upper handle end 28 of the lever is inclmed in one direction, the frame members are in their contracted closed position and when'said han'd'le is pushed over into'the opposite direction in the position illustrated in the views, the webs will be actuated in opposite directions'by the action of said pinion upon the respective racks to separate said members 10-and 11' more or less. pawl {30 :is pivoted between said handleplates-and adapted to-engage the respective ratchet teethto secure said members in such separated positions. 1

Resilient guide strips 731 are rigidly secured to one of the members, as 11, and are extended into sliding engagement withthe opposing member -l0 and are adapted "to bridge the gap separating the members and resilientlymaintain the same in alinement and insure their'registerwhen they are brought into their retracted positions.

The -ma-nner ofusing the apparatus may be explaine'das'followsi Covers indicated by CyO l duck or other materiahfor wear over uniformcaps in' the naval and military servj manipulated to separate the stretcher-members 10 and 11 which stretch the fabric of the cap cover, which is allowed to dry upon the frame. The result is that the cover dries quickly and without wrinkles in the shape it is desired to assume, without requiring ironing or other handling in order to fit it for wear. After the cover is dry, the pawl 30 is released from engagement with the ratchet teeth and the lever pushed over to cause saidstretcher members 10 and 11 to approach each other, whereupon the cap- I, cover can be easily and quickly removed" .and will be without wrinkles and shaped to fit smoothly and neatly upon a cap.

ll hile I have described my invention with some detail I do not intend to confine myself to the precise application of the invention illustrated. j

The invention is capable of relatively wide .use andmay be applied to other purposes than thatj'shown by slight modification andchange in details while remaining within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims. y 1

Having described my invention, what I 1, claim, 1s

1. In apparatus of the class described,

two semicircular companion frame members J having their chord surfaces in'juxtaposition to afford aframe of substantially circular, configuration when in their retracted POSle tions, a web rigidly connected to each said" member and directed diametrically transverse to said chord surfaces, said webs being slidably associated together-in parallel planes, and each formed with an elongated registering aperturehaving a toothed rack, respectively, upon its upper and lower edges, an operative handle-lever consisting of a pair of plates disposed upon opposite sides of said webs having a toothed pinion interposed therebetween and intermeshing with the respective racks.

2.,In apparatus of theclass described, two

semicircular companion frame members having their chord surfaces in juxtaposition to afford a frame of, substantially circularconfiguration when in their retracted positions,

a web rigidly connected to each said member and directed diametrically transverse to said chord surfaces, said webs being slidabl associated together in parallel planes,

an each formed with an elongated registering aperture having a toothed rack, respectively, upon its upper and lower edges, one of said webs being provided with ratchet teeth, an'operative handle-lever consisting of a'pair of plates disposed upon opposite"- sides of said webs having a toothed pinion interposed therebetween and intermeshing with the respective racks, and'a pawl mounted in said lever adapted to engage said Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for rable adjusted positions 7 3. In apparatus of the class described, two

ratchet teeth and secure said frame in sepasemicircular companion frame members "having their chord surfaces in juxtaposition to afiord a frame of substantially circular configuration when in their retracted positions, a web rigidly connected to each said member and directed diametrically trans-" verse to saidchord surfaces, said webs being slidably associated together in parallel planes, and each formed with an elongated registering aperture having a toothed rack,

respectively,upon its upper and lower edges,

an operative handle-lever consisting of a pair of plates disposed upon opposite sides .of said Webs having a toothed pinioninterposed therebetween and lntermeshing with.-

the respective racks,-.and means to secure I said frame-members in adjusted extended positlons.

e i." Inapparatus of the class described, two semicircular companion framemembers connected together to form a substantially circular frame in retracted position,said connections consisting of diametrically disposed websrespectively secured at one end .to the walls of the frame members, an oppositely directed toothed rack in the respective webs, an operating handle lever provided with a toothed pinion in mesh between said'racks andadapted to'reciprocate said members in opposlte direction at each partial rotation,

, disposed webs respectively secured at one end tothe walls of the frame-members, an

oppositely'directed toothed rack inthe respective'webs, an operating lever provided with a toothed pinion in mesh between said racks andadapted to reciprocate said members in opposite directions at each partial rotation, and means to secure said framemembers inadj usted extended positions.

-. Signed at Seattle, Wash, this 18th day of February, 19141:. I v j I a ERNEST c. RUSSELL.

Witnesses IoRAonBARNns, Pn'rnnson.

five cents eachfliy addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, 1).,0. 

